213 Deaths in Gaza Strip Amid Full-Scale Israel-Palestine Conflict

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The death toll has risen to 213 as Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas have continued armed clashes since the 10th. On the afternoon of the 18th (local time), intense fire exchanges continued, resulting in foreign casualties on the Israeli side.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and others on the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip using fighter jets, deploying 60 fighter jets to drop over 100 precision-guided munitions on 65 targets within Gaza over about 30 minutes.

Brigadier General Hidai Zilberman, an IDF spokesperson, explained, "Today's attack was the fourth airstrike on Hamas's underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip, destroying about 15 km." He also added that 10 multiple rocket launcher platforms linked to Hamas and allied armed groups were neutralized.

The airstrikes caused a six-story building housing the Islamic University's library and education center in Gaza to collapse. According to UN statistics, 450 buildings in the Gaza Strip have collapsed or been damaged due to Israeli airstrikes so far.

Police reported that two Thai workers who were working in a factory in southern Israel were killed when mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip landed there.

Additionally, seven other Thai workers and a 19-year-old Israeli soldier transporting relief supplies to Gaza were injured. Four of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

This brings the total death toll within Israeli territory to 12. The cumulative death toll in the Gaza Strip is 213, with 1,422 injured. Among the deceased, 61 are children and 36 are women.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized, "The enemies are paying the price for their attacks on us," and vowed to continue the offensive.

Amid the clashes between Israel and Hamas, rocket attacks targeting Israel also occurred from Lebanon.

According to the Israeli military, around midnight, six rockets were fired from Lebanon targeting northern Galilee but did not cross the border.

The Israeli military responded with tanks and artillery, and no damage has been confirmed.

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed support for a ceasefire with the Palestinians during a call with Prime Minister Netanyahu the previous day.

White House spokesperson Jen Psaki stated in a press release immediately after the call that "President Biden expressed his support for a ceasefire and discussed U.S. involvement with Egypt and other allies until the situation is resolved."

AP analyzed that since President Biden, who had not directly mentioned a cessation of hostilities regarding this issue, officially referred to a ceasefire, it will pose a significant burden on Israel, which has relied on U.S. support.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.